Thomas Hobbes' theory of government (any college-educated person should know who Thomas Hobbes is -- and yes, he was the inspiration for the naming in the comic series Calvin & Hobbes) is that all of us voluntarily give up a degree of personal freedom in exchange for mutual protection against disorder and violent death at the hands of others. Government is therefore a necessary evil to prevent the excesses and inefficiencies of chaos and anarchy (see, for example, Haiti and present-day Iraq -- not exactly business-friendly or citizen-friendly places).

We as Americans have certainly given up rights and freedoms, and so it is not surprising that we are upset that our government (be it state, local or especially national) did not provide the security and safety net for which it is created. As Bush himself said, a good deal of that can be laid at his feet.

Besides, what is the logic in arguing out of one side of the mouth that evacuation, protection and supply were local responsibilities not federal, and then out of the other proclaiming that the federal government will provide the vast majority of funds for rebuilding. If disaster response is a local issue, shouldn't rebuilding be the same? If our federal government had no role in preparing for the disaster and executing emergency response plans, why should I, in Georgia, be asked to pay to clean up the mess afterward?

I am not arguing with the bill, since I believe that the federal government does have a role here, but I will tell you, it sure does give life to the old adage "a stitch in time saves nine" -- or in this case $2 billion in levies saves $100 billion in post-storm repair.